Center for American Progress
Recent News About Center for American Progress
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On April 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a landmark rule updating Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring nondiscrimination in federally funded health programs and services. The rule extends protections to marginalized communities, including LGBTQI+ individuals, women, disabled people, and those with limited English proficiency.The rule, proposed in 2022 and finalized after extensive public review, solidifies protections for LGBTQI+ individuals accessing federally funded health programs. It reflects the importance of...
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Washington, D.C. — In a move aimed at strengthening public health, the Biden administration has unveiled a $3 billion investment to replace hazardous lead pipes, as part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring safe drinking water across the nation.Jill Rosenthal, director of public health policy at the Center for American Progress, emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, "There is no safe level of exposure to lead, and it is especially dangerous for young children. This investment by the Biden administration will support state and local governments in...
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President Joe Biden is set to announce plans today to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in Southern California and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California. The expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will provide access to nature for many nonwhite, low-income communities in the Greater Los Angeles area. Nicole Gentile, senior director for Conservation at the Center for American Progress, highlighted the importance of these monument expansions in promoting equity and justice in conservation efforts. She stated,...
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Student protests against the war in Gaza are gaining momentum, prompting a need for clear principles to guide universities in handling these demonstrations. In a politically charged environment, various concerns must be balanced to protect the rights and safety of all individuals involved.Speaking on the need for a balanced approach, it was stated, "The Hamas attack was heinous; the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza have been reprehensible; free speech is necessary; hate speech is intolerable; true security must be enforced for all; peaceful protests are bedrock; and...
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Washington, D.C. — In a recent announcement, the Biden administration finalized new rules affecting Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to safeguard disabled individuals from discrimination in healthcare and human services. Mia Ives-Rublee, director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress, commended this development, stating, "Disabled people have faced significant discrimination when receiving health care services and when interacting with human service programs. The Biden administration’s new Section 504 rules will decrease the barriers...
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Washington, D.C. — Recent research has revealed that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) did not deliver the promised benefits to workers, families, and the nation's economy. The TCJA, which was costly and heavily favored corporations and the wealthy, failed to live up to its proponents' claims during the initial debate over the bill.According to a new issue brief by the Center for American Progress, the corporate changes under the TCJA disproportionately benefited the wealthy, with the top 1 percent of the income distribution receiving a third of the benefits from the...
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The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) failed to deliver on its promises of widespread benefits for U.S. workers and the economy, according to a recent analysis. The TCJA, signed into law by former President Donald Trump, made significant changes to the nation's tax laws, including slashing corporate tax rates and altering the taxation of multinational corporations.Despite claims from proponents that the tax cuts would lead to increased wages and investment, evidence suggests otherwise. A report highlighted that the benefits of the corporate tax reductions primarily...
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Washington, D.C. — The Center for American Progress has recently announced the appointment of Weadé James as the new senior director of K-12 Education Policy. James, an alumna of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), will lead CAP's initiatives in developing and communicating innovative K-12 educational policy solutions.Jared Bass, senior vice president for Education at CAP, expressed his excitement about James joining the team, stating, "I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. James to the team as our new senior director for K-12 Education Policy. She...
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Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has put forth a proposal to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Reacting to this announcement, Akua Amaning, director for Criminal Justice Reform at the Center for American Progress, expressed her views on the matter."The DEA’s proposed rescheduling of marijuana is significant but doesn’t go far enough, as full descheduling is urgently needed. Rescheduling to a Schedule III drug will do little to mitigate the harms of marijuana criminalization. For the past 20 years, the United...
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Washington, D.C — The filibuster, a controversial parliamentary procedure, has a long history of being used to impede progress on civil rights and voting rights in the United States. According to Greta Bedekovics, associate director of Democracy Policy at the Center for American Progress (CAP), "The filibuster continues to be used to obstruct major legislation necessary to advance racial justice and voting rights in the United States."A recent issue brief from CAP highlights how the filibuster's historical legacy persists today, hindering the passage of crucial voting...
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Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a 2022 proposed rule, codifying critical nondiscrimination protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The finalized rule updates existing protections under Section 1557, ensures LGBTQI+ people are protected from health care discrimination, and strengthens key protections for marginalized communities—including people whose primary language is not English.The finalized rule announced today ensures that no one will be denied or restricted access to any health program or...
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In a comprehensive analysis of the filibuster's historical and contemporary impact on civil rights, it is revealed that the filibuster has been instrumental in obstructing critical legislation aimed at advancing racial justice and protecting voting rights in the United States.Throughout history, the filibuster has been utilized to suppress the rights of Black and brown Americans. From the 1890s when it was first used to deny civil rights to communities of color, to the 1950s and 1960s when Southern Democrats obstructed landmark civil rights legislation, the filibuster has...
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People without records are 60 percent more likely to receive a callback interview than are people with records."According to one 2017 study"Half of LGBTQI+ respondents said that they had experienced discrimination or harassment at work in the past year."In a 2022 Center for American Progress survey"LGBTQI+ people are overrepresented in the criminal legal system."Due to a complex system of factors"Ban-the-box policies help limit unnecessary inquiries into a job applicant’s record."Ban-the-box policies mean that applicants can meet with employers before potential...
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Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced new regulations aimed at tightening firearm export controls to enhance national security interests. The policies will require documentation and data analysis to identify potential risks of diversion or misuse when selling U.S.-made guns overseas. In response to the announcement, Nick Wilson, senior director for Gun Violence Prevention at the Center for American Progress, emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, "By enacting these regulations and committing to their effective implementation, the United States has...
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The American education system is set to be the focus of the upcoming 2024 CAP Summit on Education: Reset. Reframe. Reform. The summit aims to bring together experts and policymakers from various sectors of education to discuss the future of education in the United States.Confirmed speakers for the event include prominent figures such as Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, and Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, among others. These speakers will contribute their insights on the challenges and opportunities facing...
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Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the finalization of several rules and standards to reduce harmful emissions from the power sector. These actions will:Reduce carbon emissions for new gas power plants and existing coal power plants.Control and clean up coal ash, a toxic byproduct from coal-fired power plants that can pollute air and water.Strengthen the wastewater discharge standards of toxic metals and other pollutants that apply to coal-fired power plants.Limit the amount of mercury and other toxic emissions from power...
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Washington, D.C. — The Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United has opened the door for for-profit corporations to engage in political spending. However, a recent report from the Center for American Progress highlights the legal risks associated with this practice.According to the report, corporate boards have been misusing the ruling, allowing them to make political contributions without proper legal authority. The report argues that corporate boards do not have the inherent authority to spend corporate treasury funds in candidate elections as it is rooted in the...
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Younger Americans are experiencing a historic level of wealth accumulation, with data showing a significant increase in their financial well-being since the pandemic. According to recent Federal Reserve data analyzed by the Center for American Progress, households under 40 have seen a substantial growth in wealth, with the average reaching $259,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 49 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2019, even after adjusting for inflation.The surge in wealth for younger Americans stands out as unprecedented, with no other age group coming...
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The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has sparked a debate over the authority of corporations to spend in candidate elections. The ruling, which allowed corporations to spend corporate funds in elections, has faced criticism for its broad application to for-profit corporations.According to the court, the right to expend funds in elections belongs to the U.S. citizenship of the individuals associated with the corporation, not to the corporation itself. This has raised concerns about the constitutional rights of...
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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has the potential to reshape America's infrastructure landscape, with a focus on rural communities. The act, with expenditures totaling over $1.8 trillion, aims to address long-standing infrastructure deficiencies across the nation. Duane Sherman Sr., former chairman and CEO of Hoopa Valley Tribe, emphasized the importance of ensuring that federal infrastructure projects benefit local communities directly. To achieve this goal, the Biden administration is urged to adopt principles that prioritize community engagement and...